The Dragons of Dorcastle: The Pillars of Reality, Book 1

The Mechanics and the Mages have been bitter rivals, agreeing only on the need to keep the world they rule from changing. But now a Storm approaches, one that could sweep away everything humans have built. Only one person has any chance of uniting enough of Dematr behind her to stop the Storm, but the Great Guilds and many others will stop at nothing to defeat her.

The Lost Fleet: Dauntless

Captain John "Black Jack" Geary's legendary exploits are known to every schoolchild. Revered for his heroic "last stand" in the early days of the war, he was presumed dead. But a century later, Geary miraculously returns from survival hibernation and reluctantly takes command of the Alliance fleet as it faces annihilation by the Syndics.

Appalled by the hero-worship around him, Geary is nevertheless a man who will do his duty. And he knows that bringing the stolen Syndic hypernet key safely home is the Alliance's one chance to win the war. But to do that, Geary will have to live up to the impossibly heroic "Black Jack" legend.

Talon: The Talon Saga, Book 1

Long ago, dragons were hunted to near extinction by the Order of St. George, a legendary society of dragon slayers. Hiding in human form and growing their numbers in secret, the dragons of Talon have becomestrong and cunning, and they're positioned to take over the world with humans none the wiser. Ember and Dante Hill are the only sister and brother known to dragonkind. Trained to infiltrate society, Ember wants to live the teen experience and enjoy a summer of freedom before taking her destined place in Talon.

Nice Dragons Finish Last: Heartstrikers, Book 1

Audie Award, Fantasy, 2016. As the smallest dragon in the Heartstriker clan, Julius survives by a simple code: keep quiet, don't cause trouble, and stay out of the way of bigger dragons. But this meek behavior doesn't fly in a family of ambitious magical predators, and his mother, Bethesda the Heartstriker, has finally reached the end of her patience.

Steel World: Undying Mercenaries, Book 1

In the 20th century Earth sent probes, transmissions, and welcoming messages to the stars. Unfortunately, someone noticed. The Galactics arrived with their battle fleet in 2052. Rather than being exterminated under a barrage of hell-burners, Earth joined their vast Empire. Swearing allegiance to our distant alien overlords wasn't the only requirement for survival. We also had to have something of value to trade, something that neighboring planets would pay their hard-earned credits to buy. As most of the local worlds were too civilized to have a proper army, the only valuable service Earth could provide came in the form of soldiers....

The Never Hero: The Chronicles of Jonathan Tibbs, Book 1

Reclusive college student Jonathan Tibbs wakes in a pool of blood, not a scratch on him. His life is about to undergo a massive shift. A violent and merciless otherworldly enemy unleashes slaughter in the streets, calling out in a language only he understands. And it is seeking its challenger. In order to defeat the threat, Jonathan must become a temporal weapon...while remaining completely anonymous. Unfortunately, harnessing off-world powers has its own special challenges...

Steelheart: The Reckoners, Book 1

Ten years ago, Calamity came. It was a burst in the sky that gave ordinary men and women extraordinary powers. The awed public started calling them Epics. But Epics are no friend of man. With incredible gifts came the desire to rule. And to rule man you must crush his wills. Nobody fights the Epics...nobody but the Reckoners. A shadowy group of ordinary humans, they spend their lives studying Epics, finding their weaknesses, and then assassinating them. And David wants in. He wants Steelheart - the Epic who is said to be invincible. The Epic who killed David's father.

Dragonvein, Book One

Carentan, France, 1944 - Ethan Martin, a soldier in the 101st Airborne, is fighting for his life. But soon he will learn what peril truly is when he is ripped from his world and transported to a land of magic, swords, and dragons. And though the Nazis are now far, far away, danger is closer than ever.

Amazon Customer says:"Interesting Story but very light on in details."

Free the Darkness: King's Dark Tidings, Book 1

Raised and trained in seclusion at a secret fortress on the edge of the northern wilds of the Kingdom of Ashai, a young warrior called Rezkin is unexpectedly thrust into the outworld when a terrible battle destroys all that he knows. With no understanding of his life’s purpose and armed with masterful weapons mysteriously bestowed upon him by a dead king, Rezkin must travel across Ashai to find the one man who may hold the clues to his very existence.

Dreadnaught: The Lost Fleet: Beyond the Frontier

The first book of best-selling sci-fi author Jack Campbell’s new series Beyond the Frontier returns to find Captain John “Black Jack" Geary, the hero of the Lost Fleet series, awoken from cryogenic sleep to take command of the fleet. Geary’s legendary exploits have earned him the adoration of the people—and the enmity of politicians convinced that a living hero can be a very inconvenient thing.

The Pearl Wars: Skyship Academy, Book 1

A devastated Earth's last hope is found in Pearls: small, mysterious orbs that fall from space and are capable of supplying enough energy to power entire cities. Battling to control the Pearls are the Skyship dwellers -political dissidents who live in massive ships in the Earth's stratosphere - and the corrupt Surface government.

Kris Hutchison says:"This is definitely a book one of a series but it is interesting"

At the Sign of Triumph: Safehold, Book 9

The Church of God Awaiting's triumph over Charis was inevitable. Despite its prosperity, the Charis was a single, small island realm. It boasted less than two percent of the total population of Safehold. How could it possibly resist total destruction? The Church had every reason to be confident of a swift, crushing victory, an object lesson to other rebels.

Reign of Madness: King's Dark Tidings, Book 2

Equipped with skills far beyond those of the outworlders, Rezkin has been suddenly thrust into a foreign world. The young warrior clings to his only known purpose as he continues his search for any information about his identity and the reason for his existence. While the hardened warrior scorns both dueling and tournaments, he believes some of the answers he seeks may be found at the King's Tournament, the greatest dueling championship in all of the kingdoms.

Ark Royal

Seventy years ago, the interstellar supercarrier Ark Royal was the pride of the Royal Navy. But now, her weapons are outdated and her solid-state armour nothing more than a burden on her colossal hull. She floats in permanent orbit near Earth, a dumping ground for the officers and crew the Royal Navy wishes to keep out of the public eye. But when a deadly alien threat appears, the modern starships built by humanity are no match for the powerful alien weapons.

Monster Hunter International

Five days after Owen Zastava Pitt pushed his insufferable boss out of a 14th story window, he woke up in the hospital with a scarred face, an unbelievable memory, and a job offer. It turns out that monsters are real. All the things from myth, legend, and B-movies are out there, waiting in the shadows. Some of them are evil, and some are just hungry. Monster Hunter International is the premier eradication company in the business. And now Owen is their newest recruit.

Monster Hunter Memoirs: Sinners

With New Orleans out of control, Chad Oliver Gardenier, one of Monster Hunter International's premier hunters, has been dispatched from Seattle to reinforce the beleaguered members of MHI'S Hoodoo Squad in their fight against the darkness.

No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished: Heartstrikers, Book 3

When Julius overthrew his mother and took control of his clan, he thought he was doing right by everyone. But sharing power isn't part of any proper dragon's vocabulary, and with one seat still open on the new ruling council, all of Heartstriker is ready to do whatever it takes to get their claws on it, including killing the Nice Dragon who got them into this mess in the first place.

Tarnished Knight: The Lost Stars, Book 1

The authority of the Syndicate Worlds’ government is crumbling. Civil war and rebellion are breaking out in many star systems, despite the Syndic government’s brutal attempts to suppress disorder. Midway is one of those star systems, and leaders there must decide whether to remain loyal to the old order or fight for something new.

Live Free or Die: Troy Rising, Book One

When aliens trundled a gate to other worlds into the solar system, the world reacted with awe, hope and fear. But the first aliens to come through, the Glatun, were peaceful traders and the world breathed a sigh of relief.

A Warrior's Path: The Castes and the OutCastes Book 1

Sweeping from the majestic city of Ashoka to the perilous Wildness beyond her borders, enter a world where Caste determines mystical Talents, the purity of Jivatma expresses worth, and dharma may be based on a lie.Rukh Shektan has always understood duty. As a member of Caste Kumma, the warrior Caste, nothing else is acceptable. He is expected to take part in the deadly Trials, to journey the Wildness and protect the caravans linking Humanity's far-flung cities. Though the mission is dangerous, Rukh's hope and optimism are undaunted. Karma, however, is a fickle fiend.

Warbreaker

Warbreaker is the story of two sisters who happen to be princesses, the God King one of them has to marry, the lesser god who doesn't like his job, and the immortal who's still trying to undo the mistakes he made hundreds of years ago. Their world is one in which those who die in glory return as gods to live confined to a pantheon in Hallandren's capital city and where a power known as BioChromatic magic is based on an essence known as breath that can be collected only one unit at a time.

Grimoire of the Lamb: An Iron Druid Chronicles Novella

When he’s not vanquishing villainous gods or dodging demons, 2,000-year-old Druid Atticus O’Sullivan can be found behind the counter of Third Eye Books and Herbs in modern-day Tempe, Arizona, literally minding his own business. But when an evil sorcerer - and amateur shoplifter - snatches an ancient Egyptian tome of black magic, The Grimoire of the Lamb, Atticus is not sheepish about pursuing him to the ends of the earth...or at least to the Land of the Pharaohs.

Elantris

Once the godlike rulers of the capital of Arelon, the inhabitans of Elantris have been imprisoned within themselves, unable to die after the city's magic failed years ago. But when a new prince falls victim to the curse, he refuses to accept his fate.

On Basilisk Station: Honor Harrington, Book 1

Honor Harrington has been exiled to Basilisk station and given an antique ship to police the system. The vindictive superior who sent her there wants her to fail. But he made one mistake: he's made her mad....

Publisher's Summary

It's book two of The Pillars of Reality, the exciting epic fantasy series written exclusively for Audible by New York Times best-selling author Jack Campbell!

Someone wants to kill Mari, a young steam mechanic in the guild that controls all technology. She has learned that her world of Dematr is headed for a catastrophe that will destroy civilization and that mages really can alter reality for short periods. Someone also wants to kill Alain, a young mage who has learned that mechanics are not frauds, as his guild teaches, and that mechanic Mari is the only person who can prevent the oncoming disaster.

Narrowly escaping death, the mechanic and the mage stay alive thanks to their combined skills, an alliance never before seen. But it becomes clear that both of their guilds, the most powerful forces in the world, are trying to destroy them. Other powers, like the great empire and a mysterious secret order, also seek to kill or capture them using every weapon from imperial legions to mage-created trolls, dragons, and rocs.

Trying to survive and learn the truth about their world so they will know how to save it, Mari and Alain realize the answers they seek may lie in the dead city of Marandur. But Marandur is guarded by the legions that have sealed it off from the rest of the world for more than a century. Mari and Alain's only hope may rest with the unseen masters of Marandur.

The Hidden Masters of Marandur is the second book in the fantasy mixed with technology series Pillars of Reality. Taking place on the continent of Dematr in what I believe is a planet not our own, that humans must have colonized hundreds of years ago. The common people have their kingdoms and governments but are basically under the thumb and control of the two great guilds of Mages and Mechanics. These guilds hate one another except for Mari (mechanic) and Alain (Mage) who came together previously in the first book, The Dragons of Dorcastle, under very dangerous circumstances. This second installment is just as action packed as the first and continues their struggles together against their two guilds, various other nefarious forces and sets them on the road to fulfilling prophecy.

​- I was worried at the end of the first book that Alain and Mari wouldn’t be featured together in the second book. Luckily, that wasn’t the case and we get to see them together again navigating dangerous scenarios, trying to figure out what their guilds might know about the two of them working together, escaping dark mechanics and meeting old faces from both of their past lives. I definitely continue to greatly enjoy the dynamics between these two characters especially their dialogue.

​- Both the Mage Guild and Mechanics Guild seem to operate in a similar manner in that they try to teach their members to blindly believe nothing but the doctrine of their guild and to place a lower value on the lives of the common people. They take what they want and give little in return except for those services which are highly paid for. The Mages are taught that nothing and no one is real and that the whole world is an illusion and that they must deny all feelings or they will lose their powers as a mage. While the Mechanics are taught that common people don’t have the ability to learn mechanics skills and that they must never make anything new and innovative. Both guilds want to maintain a stagnate state within their guilds and for the entire populace. When one group or common government becomes too strong they pit them against each other in wars to keep them indirectly under their control.

​- Each guild does seem to have a group that has broken off that does whatever they please. They are referred to their respective guilds as Dark Mages and Dark Mechanics. They are not part of the guilds and operate outside it’s ruled and regulation doing whatever they please.

- There is a much heavier focus on the romance between Alain and Mari this time around, but I adored it! Alain is starting to show more emotion and Mari is of course very forthcoming with hers. These are two new or young adults exploring feelings neither have had before. I found this to be such a sweet budding relationship that it gave me quite a few, ahhhh I love this book moments. Which says a lot since I’m not usually a sucker for young romance.

- Alain is definitely my favorite character. This might be because he is the most mature character while at the same time has the most potential for growth. He is so intelligent and logical, seeing things so clearly and also having an objective and sticking to it. For being taught not to care about others he still innately seems to know what is right and wrong, having a really strong sense of morals. I loved the way we continue to see Alain slowly learn about simple things like what emotions and different actions mean. I thought that perhaps I might tire of this but have realized its one of my favorite parts about his character.

- Mari is also a great character. Even tho she is a very good person, wanting to help people and respecting each person regardless of their station and wanting so many things for all people. Seeing how things are not fair for everyone and wanting to do things to change the bigger picture she has her faults just like everyone else. She can frequently be so stubborn and pigheaded. She will insist on her way, or get overly emotional about things or even refuse to use logic to see things that are so obvious. And at times she will inconveniently forget that Alain doesn’t understand and see things the way that she does and fly off the handle at him. In a way I got upset a few times at her for being that way and then at other times I got upset that she was written to be that way. *smile* But ultimately I still really adore her character and her fiery personality is a great balance to Alain’s calm and collected one.

I highly recommend this to fantasy lovers, especially if you enjoy reading about young protagonists coming into their own and fighting against a stronger force then themselves. The world building has been strengthened even further giving the reader more history. Along with the characters flight from their pursuers and search for knowledge allowing us to see more of the continent the pace is constant and had me finding excuses to continue the book. The Hidden Masters of Marandur also leaves off at a fabulous point for the third book to pick up which I believe is going to take us and the characters delving even deeper into the world and history of humanity and how they came to Dematr.

I don't have a lot of experience with Jack Campbell's books so I'm not sure if this is just his writing style, but expect a lot more teen romance then story here. Don't get me wrong the story portion of it is good, just overshadowed heavily by the blossoming romance of the protagonists.

Loved it just like the first. I love where things are heading and it's not at too glacial a pace. I stumbled upon this gem of a series just because McLeod Andrews was narrating. I can't wait for the next book but I recommend you listening to other books narrated by him.

The first book set up an interesting story, fairly unique, and certainly worth listening to. This second book follows the story, picks up the action and keeps the conflict moving. But rather keeping these two individuals fresh and allowing them to learn about life together the author has chosen to have the female lead to turn into a snipish, jealous child given to fits of anger and jealously and drops the book into a young adult love story. The problem with listening to this book rather than reading is that you can't scan through the text to skip by the typical teenage psychology and the little girl tantrums and stay in the flow. There was room to give these two atypical teenagers new and inventive psychology, fitting to this new world, rather than what is provided.

When you are reading a story or listening to a story in our case. It is the author's job to one entertain you and to to keep you in throlled in the story. Jack Campbell does both, in this series he is done an incredible job of getting you to like both the characters and the storyline. I would suggest to anyone who might think about purchasing this book that it's a no brainer. I have read a number of his stories and find myself looking forward to the next one ore than ever. I've been listening to audiobooks for close to 15 years now. There are few books for lack of a better word have binge read. Take my advice and give this story a chance.

This had tons of potential: for character development, a chance to explore the development of solutions to problems set up in book 1, a chance to model better relationship skills. NOPE. x3Instead it became an irritating rehash of "insecure girl who is emotional - and unwilling to discuss why, jealous, and incapable of accepting praise." And"Logical, unemotional boy who is long-suffering with the even keel that keeps the relationship and story moving"

And on top of all that, the girl was made the gatekeeper for all physical aspects of the relationship.

They went some places and did some stuff, but that got buried under these choking stereotypes. The narration was just as good - but I have no interest in following this pair through any more adventures.

The story itself if decent. Before you embark though be sure to have your gag reflexes well in check before diving in. It is clear the author is trying to cement the fact that these two who are not supposed to mix at all are building a solid relationship despite all the troubles associated with that situation. It just seemed to me that the romantic segments could have been just as potent or maybe even more so with a lot less. Its kind of like the adage, if you have to say your cool then your probably not. The author tries hard to make you understand these two main characters are in a "wholehearted, die for you" relationship, but in my opinion could have done with less words and perhaps at more appropriate points in the story. If you can get through that or you are used to romance novels and have become desensitized to that sort of plot then the remainder of the story is quite entertaining.

Do yourself a favor and use the Audible playback speed feature to get through this drivel. Or better yet, save your credit. The story was completely predictable and yet amazingly vapid. It story arc crawled along arriving eventually at nowhere. But most of all, the dialogue between the two protagonists was claw-out-your-eyeballs tedious! The characters were so deliberately obtuse and the misunderstandings so completely contrived that I quickly lost all interest in their person, their relationship, and their world. Spare yourself this drudgery!

I love this series - the characters, the world & the story are amazing & I totally recommend it to anyone who enjoys fantasy - but this book was paced kind of oddly, the whole thing felt like the middle of a book & the character interactions took on a total teen realism, 'Romeo & Juliet' like quality. The drama felt kind of silly in the face of all of what was going on around them. I just hope that a real teenage would ditch the drama in the face of death & saving the world....Still an amazing read & the drama does make the characters increasingly real, if rather annoying.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Anna

8/14/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"If you like dragons and steampunk"

If you could sum up The Hidden Masters of Marandur in three words, what would they be?

A really good story, but a bit too much of meditation.The actions scenes are really well made and thrilling (not then I'm a big fan of action books but still), but the long dialogues repeating the same things over and over again are a bit boring, as well as the characters' meditations on "should I do this or shouldn't I? maybe I should, but it all seems so wrong! but if it is wrong why it seems so right? maybe it is right then. But what if it is wrong? Maybe I shouldn't do it after all? But then what should I do?.. and so on and on through the book. These parts really made me want to increase the narration speed.

Have you listened to any of MacLeod Andrews’s other performances? How does this one compare?

No, but the narrator is really good

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Not really, because of the long dialogues and long hesitatio scenes I've mentioned above. However I did want to listen to this story to the end and will buy the 3rd book as well.

Any additional comments?

It's not bad at all, all in all, I've enjoyed it, but it is really a young adult book. I never knew what was wrong with the young adult genre, but now I think I know that this teenage romance is a bit too all-sweet-fairytale-like lovestory and not actually realistic. I mean not the fantasy world setting, but the characters themselves and their relations.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

anthony

6/15/16

Overall

Performance

Story

"Loved it."

I really enjoyed this book, the story just continued to hot up. I think book 3 is going to be a great listen. The narator does another grand job can't fault him at all. If I had to recommend this series to someone then all I would say is if you want a dam good listen then give this series ago.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

Toby Smyth

5/12/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"A terrible love story obscuring a great plot"

The promise of the first book is spoilt by a romance that fail to be interesting or credible.

Great narration though, and there is scope for the author to turn it around in the next book.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

ILC

Sutton Coldfield, United Kingdom

3/24/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"great story, great performance"

second book as good as the first part, can't wait for the third.don't leave it too long, keep writing

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

H. J. Cazaly

gran canaria, spain

2/24/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"A good read,"

What did you like most about The Hidden Masters of Marandur?

You need to read the two books that come before this in order to get the full story. I enjoyed them all.

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

ben

2/23/15

Overall

Performance

Story

"Very very well thought out story"

Have really enjoyed this story .. Well worth the complaints from my other half about how much time I've spent with the iPad playing ... Has become a very enjoyable series with a number of questioned answered from the last book as well as leaving me with more for next book

0 of 0 people found this review helpful

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